Home2013JanuaryNY Times Review Of Going Clear – Lawrence Wright's Book About Scientology

NY Times Review Of Going Clear – Lawrence Wright's Book About Scientology

You really should read the review of the book if you get a chance (Click here). This is the gold that Wright has unearthed. Scientologists believe: “The planet Earth, formerly called Teegeeack, was part of a confederation of planets under the leadership of a despot ruler named Xenu. To suppress a rebellion, Xenu tricked the confederations into coming in for fake income tax investigations. Billions of thetans were taken to Teegeeack where they were dropped into volcanoes and then blown up with hydrogen bombs.”

Hubbard apparently had all this come to him while he was sitting in his dentist's office.

My favorite story is that when Tommy Girl finally worked his way up to the point of being worthy of having this "truth" revealed, he went ballistic because it was such utter nonsense. And yet…he still stayed, which is hard to understand.

I don't understand all the talk about the "secrets" in Scientology and what this writer has "unearthed". I read two books by Hubbard way back in the early 80s ("Dianetics" and "Scientology"), and they both covered all of this stuff. Are you telling me I could have been selling this info for the last 20 years or so because NOBODY ELSE actually knew about it?

There was a wonderful episode of "South Park", "Trapped in the Closet" that featured a lengthy segment showing the story of Xenu and the migration of souls in DC-8s (with nuclear reactors instead of regular engines).

During all the segment, there was a caption on screen reading "This is what scientologists actually believe."

For an even more detailed expose of Scientology, I recommend: "L. Ron Hubbard, Messiah or Madman" by his son, L. Ron Hubbard Jr. Published in the mid 80's, it literally tells all, from the inside. Frightening reading, to tell the truth.

Damn, i should make my own religon! I could totally out crazy L. Ron. We are all decended from tree spirts from The plan XR19 who were. Trapped on earth by an evil overlord name zelinor. Sign here (all it takes is $99.95 and your enternal damnation) Any takers?? XD

And yet, we almost just elected a man as President who believes a story not much sillier than this one, which was "revealed" via a man who was able to translate ancient documents by putting two rocks in a top hat and burying his face in it, and mumbling out the translations while someone else wrote down what he said.

Good ideas in scientology: using galvanic skin response during verbal therapy to note emotional fluctuations in the client/patient; focusing on getting a consciously remembered time track and figuring out what experiences shaped our present-time attitudes; teaching people that they can process their experience in such a way that they are "at cause" over the world rather than the other way around.Problems with scientology: almost everything. The sect went into a paranoic meltdown in the 50s and 60s and had megalomaniacal visions in the 70s, then was handed over to a board of directors who were not even mildly interested in the self-help stuff, except as a money-making scheme.I agree with Cee Kay that all of these disclosures have been public record for some time. I incorporate some of the scio stuff in my daily meditations, like doing "spot a person" or "spot an object" to get my mental framework into present time and to get out from under the burden of emotional pain from the past. But I would never give my name to any org, would never give a dollar to the sect, and I think they went off the rails half a century ago and will never get back on track.

Obviously different people might believe in something that others find ridiculous or impossible. I personally can't believe that someone rose from the dead. Same with the whole hat thing. Which was another great South Park episode. I don't think anything should be taken so literal, but different strokes and all. I'm sure there are things in different "religions" that help people get through life. More power to them as long as they are not harming others. I know that has been thought to happen with Scientology, but I'm pretty sure the other religions don't have a very good record either. They are all ways to control the masses.

Mistand "as long as they are not harming others". The concern is that Scientology is being investigated for human trafficking by Homeland Security in addition to other branches of the govt that are investigating their financial trail.

Well, I tried to look for the Scientology episode of South Park on Youtube and came across a video some guy made with bits of the episode and an interview with Tom Cruise where he looks very scary. It's very intertaining, if you guys want I can post the link

I just heard about a guy in Germany, who had his driver's license photo taken with a pasta strainer on his head. There had been a recent law passed that you could only wear head gear in the photo if it was associated with your religion, eg, a head scarf, sikh turban, Jewish yarmulke etc. So this guy goes in, attests that he is a member of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti monster, and is required to wear the strainer on his head. They allowed it.

@Agent – I totally agree that Scientology has probably done harm and I did say that was probably the case. I was just saying that they aren't the only ones that have done horrible things. It's just easier to put these behaviors out there now with all of the media available. To me, Scientology is going through the "we think we are all powerful, and we will do what we want to keep that power" stage that other religions also go through. The celebrity attention just makes it easier to go after them in my opinion. I don't agree with any religion and none are innocent in my eyes.

Try having your boss be a Scientologist! And she is VERY into it. Including month long auditing sessions almost every year so that she can work for the "Church." Because of the things I have read about the cult I have to sometimes supress my giggles when she spouts off on things in meetings that others have no clue where it is really coming from. She is a freakin' crazy bitch!

mistang, I agree. I just always note the human trafficking aspect because it is happening here under my nose at one of the centers in FL (as well as elsewhere) and am grateful to anybody who can stop it. Co$ is now recruiting in Africa, 10 and 11 year old males who basically are seeking food and shelter. Media watching any church= a good thing !

I don't know if this is all from the special last night but this is Part 2 about a family trying to leave:http://video.msnbc.msn.com/rock-center/50502469/#50502469And this is Part 1 with Paul Haggishttp://video.msnbc.msn.com/rock-center/50502469/#50502469

The Hollywood Reporter has been doing stories on it the past couple weeks and Tom's buddy David punches people and turns everyone else against them. They humiliate them, they even made one guy clean the bathroom floor with his tongue. I cannot believe people would donate every penny they've ever had to a guy that would make them lick the bathroom floor clean unless they are masochists.

And the children? Left in rooms with wet diapers, wet cribs, flies all around and eyes closed shut with mucus. That Part 2 of the special last night shows the family's daughter crying as she describes putting a little 8 year old to bed who never saw her parents and always asked. This family went through everything to leave and were still presented a $130K bill. Sick, sick, sick.

I, too, become hysterical and delusional when I go to the dentist. Damn, I coulda been making serious money for 45 years?!

Once, on a lark, a friend and I went into a Dianetics place in Royal Oak, MI. I was high so don't remember all the details but I was aware enough to know they were fucking nuts. We started to walk out and they were following us outside! I got very loud and very profane as they continued to follow us out to the sidewalk. It was creepy as shit. It's scary to think people will fall for this crap. I don't get it.

It sucks when any business/religion/cult takes advantage of desperate people and exploits their weaknesses. At least nowadays, if you leave other churches you won't get physically harmed. You might get ostracized and treated differently, but hopefully with your safety intact. Of course I say that and someone will show me otherwise. Ugh!

All religious beliefs seem weird to outsiders. Cee Kay – haha! Too bad you didn't write the book, and make a bunch of money, off the information that has been out for years!To that throb person – not sure what's more repulsive – your comments or your name. Ick.

I had to learn about Scientology in my Sociology of Religion class a few years ago. L Ron was a failed novelist. When he couldnt get published, he decided to turn his sci-fi fantasy world into a religion. All I can think is, Thank God Stephen King got published.

Msgirl I love Leonard Cohen have seen him twice live he is an absolutely a living legend. I love that he dabbled in many religions but has always remained objective. His use of the word "clear" did not go unnoticed by me especially since I started reading Tony Ortega. If you ever get the chance to see him live do! When I saw him last year he was even better than two years ago, the man gets better with age….sigh…….

There's a great button for sale at the science fiction/fantasy/general fandom convention I'm attending this weekend: "By the Flying Spaghetti Monster's meaty balls!" I may just have to buy that one… (Oh, and according to the woman selling buttons, the guy w/the colander on his head was in Sweden, not Germany.)

L Ron wasn't a failed novelist, he was a successful science fiction author. Writers of that genre weren't highly paid and L Ron wanted the cash. There is a famous quote about best way,to make money was to start a religion that was attributed to him.

Whatever theories of the origins of humans they hold is their freedom and right to believe. The concerns to the rest of us are not their core beliefs involving outer-space creatures. The concerns for the U.S. and other countries should be to ensure that fair investigations are undertaken to prove or disprove the reports that laws/regulations were broken, and most especially those that involve the treatment of human beings. Beliefs aren't a problem. It's what is done to others because of those beliefs that's the problem.

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